Bullet-proof armor



G. 0. BREWSTER.

BULLET PROOF ARMOR.

APPLICATION HLED DEC-28.19l5- 1 ,350,062. Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

2 SHEEISSHEET l.

nuemloz g My G. 0. BREWSTER.

BULLET PROOF ARMOR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 28, 1915.

1 50,062. Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

2 SHEEISSH EEI 2.

T Mam. m

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUY OTIS BREWSTER, OF DOVER, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO GUY OTIS BREWSTER AND EMIL HELLER, TRADING'AS BREWSTER AND HELLER.

BULLET-PROOF ARMOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

A further object of the invention is to' provide an armor of the class described, which will prevent the shock of contact of a projectile thereagainst being transmitted to the wearer.

Further objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination, location and relative arrangement of parts, all as will .be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of an armor embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a section of the same taken on line 2-2, Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a view in rear elevation showing the interior of V the body portion of the armor.

Fig. 4 is a section of the same. taken on the line a, 4L, Fig. 3, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a rear view of the head portion or head guard employed in accordance with my invention, showing the interior thereof. J

Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation of the upper leg or thigh of the armor.

Fig. 7 is a similar view of the lower leg or shin portion of the armor.

Fig. 8 is a view in perspective of a hand guard as employed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 9 is a similar View of a guard to cover the top of the foot The same part is designated by the same reference numeral wherever it occurs throughout the several views.

In accordance with my invention I pro pose to provide a bullet proof armor which will protect the entire front of the wearer advancing in the face of a hail of projectiles,

I such as in storming or charging a fortified position in warfare, which is light, and which does not in any way interfere with his freedom of movement. I further propose to provide suitable cushioning means for the various portions which will prevent the shock of the impact of projectiles thereagainst from being transmitted to the wearer, and also to provide suitable fasten- 111g means for the armor which are capable of being quickly fastened or unfastened, but which at the same time securely hold the armor to the wearer and prevent the dis placement thereof due to his actions.

In modern warfare where modern machine guns, rifles, shrapnel, hand grenades, and aeroplane bombs are employed, it is practically impossible to storm a fortified position which may be but slightly garrisoned without great loss of life to the at tacking army. For this reason many experiments have been made and a great deal of time and labor expended to find some.

armor that will protect the advancing soldier from the hall of bullets he is subjected to. Armor has been heretofore proposed,

as applicant is aware, which is bullet proof.

.posed, to be worn next to the skin of the wearer.

It was found, however, that the shock of impact of the bullet thus trans mitted directly to the wearer was sufiicient to knockhim down, and to seriously injure him. The question of absorbing the shock imparted to a protector or armor is one that has been given a great deal of attention by those skilled in the art. In my prior Patents, No. 1,004,737, issued Oct. 31, 191.1, and No. 1,040,267, issued Oct. 8, 1912, I have shown protectors to be worn by people while boxing, and means for preventing the force of the blows delivered against the protectors from being transmitted to the wearers thereof. By actual demonstration I have found that the same principle is applicable in the present case.

In accordance with my invention 1 provide an armor made up of several inde pendent parts to cover the front, top and sides of the head, and the top and front of the body, and the front of the arms and legs. known as bullet proof steel, that is capable of withstanding the penetration of a 150 gr. bullet fired at 50'yards distance, with a velocity of 2700 feet per second, reckoned in food pounds per second, muzzle velocity extending up to 55 yards, at an angle. Such asheet of steel, as is well known, is approximately .25 inches thick, and in consequence comparatively light in weight. armor are formed at an angle, that is, the armor slants backwardly from the approximate center of the front thereof, thereby presenting the apex of the angle in front of'the wearer. I have found by actual test that with this structure the wearer of the armor is enabled to advance within a few yards of the muzzle of a gun, without the force of the projectile being felt, or the-projectile penetrating the armor, whereas, were the armor presented at right angles thereto, the bullet would readily penetrate the same at that distance. The bullets striking the armor are deflected at a constant angle, depending, as will readily be nuderstoot, upon the angle between the side portions of armor. Thus it will be seen that where a number of men are employed using this armor, they would be deployed over aspace, and, at a distance from each other, never less than a distance suiiicient to take each one out of the travel of the deflected projectiles from the adjacent man. The angle armor may be formed in either a concave, convex, or a straight angle. I have found, however, that a slightly convex form is preferable.

The body portion is provided with suitable straps 2, one under the arms, and one about the waist, for securing the same to the wearen and they preferably are secured to each other in the rear. of the wearer as shown. The body portion is preferably in the shape of a shield, covering the entire front of the wearer, as shown, and also sex organs by a downwardly projecting portion 3. Downturned hooks 4-, form the upper portion of the shield 1, and are adapted to fit over the shoulders of the wearer, thereby furnishing a protection to his shoulders and also distributing a portion of the weight thereof thereon, to which, in addition straps may be added to pass over the shoulder to further secure the armor and distribute its weight. The protectors for the arms are also angular as above described, and consist respectively.

This armor is of steel, and what is The respective portions of the.

of the two portions 7 and 8 to fit over the front of the arm above and belowthe elbow, The bottom of the portion 7 is curved to fit against the top of the portion 8 to allow free movement at the joint but at the same time to afford full protection thereto. The respective arm portions are secured to the wearer by suitable straps 9 similar to the straps2 hereinbefore described.

The leg protectors are also formed in two. parts 10, and 11, to fit above and below the knee, respectively. To afford protection to the knee cap, when the wearer-is running I propose to outwardly bend the upper portion of the shin protector 11 as shown at 12, to overlap the bottom of the thigh portion 10. The leg'portions of the protector are also held in place by suitable straps 13,

as hereinbefore described.

The head portion l l-of the armor I propose to form by bending backward the top portion of the sheet of metal, to effectively protect thetop of the head of the wearer from projectiles falling downwardly. The eyes 15 are stamped or bent out of the metal, leaving the shades or protectors 16 so that by inclining his head, while running forward in the-face of fire, he can see the ground ahead of him without exposing his eyes or his head. The head guard 14 may be placed over or beneath the body shieldas shown.

Suitably carriedin the head guard is a chin strap 17 and a head rest or strap 18.

To secure the cushioning effect hereinbefore mentioned, and toabsorbthe shock of projectiles striking the armor, I provide suitable pads, such as pneumatic pads 53, as shown in Fig. 3, or felt pads 6 as shown in Fig. 2, suitably positioned inside of the various portionsof the armor. ln practicev I find it preferable to position a pad across the forehead, across the chest and: abdomen of the body portion below the .hip and against the hip bones and along the sides of the body and above the knee of the thigh portion, below the kneeand above the ankle Q of the shin portion, below" the shoulder and above the elbow, and below the elbow and above. the wrist shown, 1

In Fig. 81 show ashield 25-for thehand which may be worn to cover the back or :the front of the hand, and which is secured thereto by means of the straps 26.

of the. arm portions, all as terial, said head portion being bent backwerdly to protect the top of the head of the user and provided with eye openings therethrough and shields for said openings to protect the eyes of the user when sgid head portion is downwardly inclined, without obscuring his sight.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand on this 21st day of December, A. D. 1915.

GUY OTIS BREWSTER. 

